InStyle.com has asked nine designers to sketch his or her vision of Bella’s wedding gown, which SPOILER ALERT, we know from the third Twilight book, Eclipse, is an early 1900s design (with Alice Cullen’s updates) and from the fourth, Breaking Dawn, is something that makes the bride’s mother say, “You look like you just stepped out of an Austen movie.” The gown pictured here is from Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, who tells InStyle, “I wanted this to be a modern day antique-inspired gown. The lace bodice climbs up to the neck to reveal a sultry open back of flesh with tiny silk buttons that clasp at the neck. It’s a true turn of the century gown, full of Gothic and glamorous fullness in the skirt which flows as she moves. The gown is mysterious and feminine, perfect for a dream wedding.” Browse InStyle’s gallery, then choose your favorite in our poll after the jump.
Siriano has my vote: His design is elegant but youthful, and his open back isn’t as steamy as Prabal Gurung’s, which feels borderline inappropriate. My second pick would be Lela Rose, whose simple design would suit Bella, someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, by focusing all eyes on the back of the gown. Monique Lhuillier went for a similar look, but with a bit more flash. Erin Fetherston went a little too Austen for my taste, while I have no idea where Brian Reyes was headed. At all. Max Azria’s long-sleeved creation somehow captures Bella’s awkward, quiet beauty, while Badgley Mischka’s seems to be designed for Cruella De Vil (or Sharon Stone). Zac Posen’s pink gown feels a little too Moulin Rouge for Bella…
Illustration courtesy of Christian Siriano
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The dress in the book is described as an inverted calla lily with a million tiny buttons going down the back. Monique Lhuillier’s design looks identical to what is described in Breaking Dawn.
I agree completely–totally how I pictured the dress.
Really agree. When I saw that gown, I could see Bella wearing that.
I agree!!!!!
The only dress that looks like it stepped out of a Jane Austen novel is the one designed by Erin Fetherson. Otherwise, either Monique’s or Christian’s works.
completely agree with that,while Christian’s design is beautiful,i think Monique’s design fits Breaking Dawn’s description much better.The only other design i like is Lela Rose’s.and seriously,what was Brian Reye’s sketch supposed to look like?!i completely agree with orville’s take on that…”gown”.
Agreed, Lesleykay. Lhuillier’s is the only dress that looks truly Austenian.
I agree that the Lela Rose one would probably suit Bella best with the Monique Lhuillier a close second (I personally love that one–especially the cap sleeves). The Max Azaria was nice, but maybe too conservative. Erin Fetherston’s is too Holly Hobbie (even though I love my Holly Hobbie). Christian Siriano’s is a little too fancy for Bella. Badgley Mischka’s too Victorian. Didn’t like Zac Posen’s at all for no good reason. Pabal Gurung’s is too risque and too modern. As for Brian Reyes–WTF? Was there a dress in that Picasso?
Is there going to be a real vote and will the winner have his/her dress in the movie?
I was thinking the exact same thing about the Brian Reyes “dress” – is it some kind of optical illusion or something?!?
i am so with you… what was that a picture of? anyway, the lela rose dress is what i pictured bella in reading Breaking Dawn…
I totally agree! This dress definitely has my vote. I could picture the dress in my head, and this describes it perfectly. Plus it looks simple enough that Bella would wear it, and I don’t really think the other dresses portray that simplicity or modesty.
I don’t think that the writer of this piece actually read the books, or else (spolier alert!!)she would know that Bella described the dress as something from “Anne of Green Gables” vision, and when her mother called the dress something out of Jane Austen, her mother was wrong. Anne of Green Gables and the Jane Austen books are not in the same century. Bella and Alice knew her mother was wrong when she said it, but thought it best not to correct her.
Anyway, my point is, the Jane Austen reference to the dress was never correct.
I totally agree – Siriano’s couldn’t be further from the dress described in the book.
The dress doesn’t need to be exactly like the dress described in the book, it’s just what the artist imagined it as, and I doubt that these people have the time to waste on reading a book as awful as Breaking Dawn, haha. With that said, I think Lela’s dress is the best one. If you look closely she has “a million tiny buttons” on the back of hers too.
I’m so glad somebody pointed out that Austen is about 120 years before the early 1900’s. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if the blog writers actually put any thought into their writing…
The problem is not the blog writers, it is the poor writing and lack of accurate details from a Ms Stephenie Meyer…
Austen is late 18th century/very early 19th, but AOGG is 19th century, well before 1918, when Edward changed. Anne was published in 1908, but the story is set in the 1870s-80s.
oodelally3 — you’re right about the dates for Austen in terms of publication, but the story themselves usually took place around 1780. And Anne of Green Gables was set at the turn of the 20th century, not the 1870s.
oh my Gosh! You are SO right!!
that means the Rose dress is the only one that really comes closest!
I couldn’t see the dress in Reyes’ sketch…I assume it wouldn’t look anything like that.
I voted for Lhuillier’s design. It’s loverly!
Must agree with those voting for Monique Lhuillier’s vision, with Lela Rose’s design a close second. Sorry, I don’t care at all for Soriano’s design and even if I did it’s too flouncy for Bella’s simple tastes, which even Alice would take into account. And someone should ask Brian Reyes what he has against brides!
Monique’s was the more like what I envisioned when reading Breaking Dawn…. it would be hard for the designers to hit the mark if they hadn’t read the books. It would be a shame if the dress chosen is no way near how it is described by Stephenie Meyer.
who cares, the movie was nothing like the book and the book was way too detailed. They both were neither original or inspiring.
i dont think they should totally abide by the books EXACT description anyway; when it was described as anne of green gables-ish i cringed. I was totally hoping in the movie they would modernize it and make it look lacey and vintage but something the audience would relate to and think is beautiful. i like monique Lhuillier and lela rose as well.
I think Maz Azria’s dress best suits Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Bella, though it isn’t my favorite dress. I can’t see the back but would imagine it would have a million tiny buttons as described in the book.
Monique’s was the most accurate. The winning dress is too poofy. The book describes it as an inverted calla lily – form fitting. But both are very beautiful. The winning dress could work if the ruffles on the skirt aren’t as huge as they are in the photo. I do like that top of the bodice, however…
I think it would have been very interesting to get a couple more designers, such as Vivienne Westwood and Christian LaCoix, to try their hands. So much of their design seems to be vintage and/or abstract-inspired. That said, I think Monique Lhullier’s is definitely the prettiest, without being too vintage.
Monique’s dress is the best by far for the movie. Bella is a very simple girl that doesnt like alot of attention drawn to her in the first place. So the winning dress would be much too poofy and over the top for her. Monique’s is simple, elegant, and very beautiful all at the same time. Something I could see Bella giving in to wear. You’d have to tranquilize her to get her into the winning dress, LOL.
While most of the dresses are lovely, not one really touched the essence of Jane Austen’s time, described in the book. Instead, most focused on a Victorian vibe, which is anywhere from 40-100 years later than Jane Austin’s perod of early Regency (1804-1812).
And, on a personal note, none would be something I could wear, even if I could afford it! Designers, here’s a challenge I’d like to see — design something for someone other than anorexic, pouty stick figures!
As someone stated earlier, the dress isn’t supposed to be from Jane Austen’s time. Bella’s dress is supposed to be from 1918 with some modern updates from Alice. It’s supposed to based on Edward’s time period of life the 1900’s.
It’s gonna be weird seeing Bella in classic clothes, rather than the Pacific Northwest look she always sports. Whatever dress she ends up in, I hope she doesn’t do the typical Kristen Stewart thing of matching gorgeous clothes with s—-y shoes.